New website aims to help neighborhood businesses by convincing neighbors to spend more close to home.

Small businesses in New York City are suffering. www.hoodsfirst.com is a new website dedicated to helping small businesses in all 58 of New York City's neighborhoods. hoodsfirst.com content will try to convince locals to spend it in their neighborhood whenever they can.

(PRWEB) June 28, 2002

www.hoodsfirst.com is the brainchild of Hugh & Diane Gibney. Yorkville, on the Upper Eat Side of Manhattan, is their hood. Diane was born, raised and lives today in Yorkville. Since 9/11, small businesses in New York have been suffering. The prognosis for this summer are not good. It's as if the shockwave of 9/11 is just now being felt the hardest by some small businesses.

hoodsfirst.com will rely on email addresses collected by neighborhood. For example, there are some 58 neighborhoods in Manhattan.
From Alphabet City to Yorkville. Incentives to "Keep it in the hood" will be sent by email to all good neighbors. Retailors will pay nothing for the service. "Isn't that what good neighbors are for?", says Diane Gibney, "Some of these people are like family to us. Now more than ever, it's time to keep it in the family."

hoodsfirst.com is waiting for a meeting with Mayor Bloomberg's Office of Business Services.

Local residents can "Keep it in the hood", by sending emails, including neighborhood name and Zip Code +4.

Contact: Hugh Gibney, hugh@hoodsfirst.com
         Diane Gibney, diane@hoodsfirst.com